Blades of Ether

As far as the eye can see, the world of Arlest is blanketed in a sea of clouds. Atop this sea, far above the long-dead civilizations buried beneath, float gigantic beings known as Titans. Titans and the societies they carry vary wildly, but they all hold one thing in common: Blades. Titans naturally produce cores, glowing gemstones that house slumbering etheric souls. When an organic being takes up one of these monochrome crystals, the ether within flows through them, creating an explosion of color and energy that only some can weather. Beings with potential can resonate with the latent Blade, anchoring its energy, waking it and revealing its true color and form. Those who forge Blades are known as Bearers, and a Bearer’s bond is for life.

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Blades of Ether is a tabletop roleplaying game for three to six players. Guided by the Architect, the GM who gives life and voice to the Cloud Sea, you'll set out on unforgettable adventures in a world unlike any other, changing Arlest forever with the wake you leave in the clouds.

Play as Blades, magical beings that awaken from crystalline cores, and Bearers, people with the power to awaken a Blade and wield a weapon made of their ideals. As partners bound by magical covenant, you'll traverse the wide world of Arlest's Cloud Sea, gaze upon the boughs of the World Tree, and become stronger and more powerful as you forge bonds and values with your chosen and destined companions.

As teams of Bearers and Blades in an adventuring party, you'll put your words, will, and weapons to the test with an original narrative-driven D6 dice system, and face off against Arlest's most dangerous foes in grid-based, teamwork-focused combat gameplay.

By nurturing and growing the bonds you share with your fellow party members, you'll gain the power to strengthen your attributes, manipulate the elemental magic of the world around you, customize your signature attack arts, and learn unique talents and field skills throughout your adventures. The game's core design principle of narrative-first, speed-oriented mechanics let you flesh out your characters, their bonds, and the world they adventure through with dynamic pace and exciting outcomes.

The 90-page rulebook this free game provides lays out a framework for building your unique Bearer or Blade and crafting and roleplaying the relationships they share with their partner and party members. It provides 10 chapters of content to give them unique attacks, skills, and talents that they can employ to give voice to the bonds and ideals they carry with them across the vast ocean of unforgettable living landmasses it fleshes out.

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Blades and Bearers are powerful entities, and can have a massive effect on the world around them. Everything lies in the wake of their journeys, their aspirations, their bonds, and their ideals. The question now, Bearer or Blade, is what kind of impact will you and your partner have?

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A plain-text version of Blades of Ether's rulebook designed with visual accessibility and screen-reader friendliness in mind can be found and downloaded at gears.link/blades/accessible!

Blades of Ether is written by Alexis Eva (@involutegirl), Kaylee Maya (@WitchsHex), and Ruby Soleil-Raine (@IronsparkSyris).

The key art and margin art are by Krysta Rondine (@KrystaYvisual)

The Blades of Ether logo is by Amber Slaughter (@KODA_VT).

With thanks to our test readers 404, Angel Sky McCool, Delphine, Earthan Huq, happy birthday!, Rose Peck, and sporkife.